VIDEO: Volleyball State Player of the Year

A mid-season loss to 'Iolani turned Punahou's volleyball season around and senior Maddison McKibbin's leadership and versatility helped the Buffanblu finish off their year with a Division I state championship.

McKibbin, a 6-foot-6 opposite and setter who will play for USC next year, was voted the 2009 Advertiser State Player of the Year by statewide coaches.

"I pretty much separated our season, and our team does, before we played 'Iolani the first time and after that loss," said McKibbin, who had 30 kills and 23 assists at the state tournament and was named the tourney's Most Outstanding Player. "(We) made a complete change from it and that's what we needed."

McKibbin, who had nine kills, 10 assists and 10 digs in the state championship final against Kamehameha, helped the Buffanblu finish the season 20-1 and ranked second nationally by ESPN RISE. Punahou was undefeated in 2008 before losing to 'Iolani in the state championship match.

"He knew we could achieve perfection as a team," said teammate Joshua Taylor, who described McKibbin as a steady rock and a role model that the team uses while playing. "He kept it fun, but it was extremely intense in practices."

Taylor, a 6-7 sophomore outside hitter, and teammate Taylor Crabb were also named to the first team. Crabb and McKibbin were on last year's first team.

Taylor had 16 kills and hit for a .700 percentage in a 25-11, 25-19, 25-21 win over Kamehameha in the state final, while Crabb, a 6-2 junior setter, had 31 assists.

Kamehameha's Micah Christenson earned his second All-State first-team honor of the year. A 6-5 sophomore setter and outside hitter, Christenson led the Warriors (19-4) to a state runner-up finish. He was also a first-team pick in basketball.

Also on the first team were Roosevelt's Joby Ramos, Kamehameha-Hawai'i's Chandler Ka'a'a, Hawai'i Baptist's Ryan Leung and Wai'anae's Anthony Robinson.

Ramos, a 6-1 junior setter, led the Rough Riders (16-1) to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red title and a third-place finish at states.

Ka'a'a, a 6-4 senior setter and outside hitter who will play at Stanford, helped the Warriors (13-5) finish fourth at states.

Leung, a 6-3 junior opposite, helped the Eagles (19-1) win their second straight Division II state title and finish the year ranked sixth nationally. He had 17 kills and hit for .625 in the state final against Hilo.

Robinson, a 6-1 senior outside hitter, led the Seariders to an undefeated OIA West season. He will play at Graceland (Iowa).

Hawai'i Baptist coach Teoni Obrey was voted Coach of the Year by his peers. In addition to winning a second straight Division II state title, Obrey's Eagles beat Kamehameha and 'Iolani and their only loss of the year was a three-set loss to Punahou.

"He's extremely smart, knows the matchups," said Taylor, who plays for Obrey's Ku'ikahi Volleyball Club. "He will research players and he will pull you over and help you individually."

Also receiving votes for Coach of the Year were Punahou's Rick Tune, Roosevelt's Kaui Mendonca, Kamehameha's Guy Kaniho and Hilo's Hoku Harvest.